South High offers lessons on diversity

Wednesday

Nov 20, 2013 at 6:00 AMNov 20, 2013 at 8:23 AM

By Clive McFarlane, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

As required by state law, all Massachusetts public schools have a bullying prevention and intervention program, and most students quite possibly might be able to recite the relevant portion of the law, which forbids them from using written, verbal or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture to terrorize, or otherwise cause emotional harm to other students.

Lunenburg High School, which is currently reeling from reports that the home of one of its black students was vandalized with racist graffiti, has a bullying program.

Yet it did not prevent the racist graffiti and an earlier incident in which members of the town's high school football team hurled racial slurs at student athletes from South High Community School during a game earlier this month.

I am not surprised.

Tolerance and respect for others require more than a bullying program, more than the creation of policies and procedures and online resources, and more than candlelight vigils.

Tolerance and respect for others are largely won by an unequivocal embrace of our diverse cultures.

Maureen Binienda, principal of South High Community School, understands this quite well. Her school is the fifth most diverse high school in the state, with Hispanics making up 39.1 percent of the school's population, whites 24.8 percent, African-Americans 18.2 percent, and Asians 16 percent.

Given its diversity, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for the school to maintain a persistent and strong academic climate if its students couldn't learn, work and play together in an understanding and respectful manner.

That is why South High treats diversity not as extracurricular activity but as an integral part of its general curriculum.

Recently, for example, when The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts brought "Memphis the Musical" to the city, South High School students prepared for its arrival six weeks in advance by studying lesson plans that dealt with various themes of the play, which told the story of a white DJ who worked to get black music on the radio in 1950s Memphis.

As part of their preparation, the students studied the historical and sociological elements in the play, as well as its artistic presentation and its musical score. This is just one example of how the school treats diversity as an integral measure of its students social and academic growth.

That is not to say all South High students are tolerant and respectful. But those who aren't, don't carry the day at the school.

"I am so thankful I am in a school that is as diverse as we are," Ms. Binienda said.

"I believe our kids value diversity. They value it as something that is unique, which is why I am saddened by what happened (the alleged racial slurs by Lunenburg students). It bothers me that they missed the opportunity to get to know our kids and their diverse backgrounds."

Ms. Binienda has reached out to her Lunenburg counterpart, and there is hope that the two will soon sit down to discuss improving relationships between the two schools, according to Tim Norris, a spokesman for the Lunenburg School District.

I hope they do.

It might be helpful, too, if school officials can find ways other than on the athletic field for Lunenburg High School (90.1 percent white student body) and South High students to get to know one another better.

"Once kids get to know kids as kids, the barrier is gone," Ms. Binienda said, and coming from a principal of the fifth most diverse school in the state, that should give hope to us all.